Masters of paffion fway it to the mood

Of what it likes, or lothes. Now, for your anfwer.
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless neceffary cat;
Why he, a woollen bag-pipe; but of force
Muft yield to fuch inevitable fhame,
As to offend, himself being offended:
So can I give no reafon, nor I will not,
More than a lodg'd hate and a certain loathing
I bear Anthonio, that I follow thus
A lofing fuit against him. Are you answer'd?
Bal. This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,
T'excufe the current of thy cruelty.

Shy. I am not bound to please thee with my
anfwer.
Baff. Do all men kill the thing they do not love?
Shy. Hates any man the thing he would not kill?
Baf. Ev'ry offence is not a hate at firft.

Shy. What, would'ft thou have a ferpent fting thee twice?

Ant. I pray you, think, you queftion with a Jew.
You may as well go ftand upon the beach,
And bid the main flood 'bate his usual height.
You may as well ufe queftion with the wolf,
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb.
You may as well forbid the mountain-pines
To wag their high tops, and to make a noise,
When they are fretted with the gufts of heav'n.
You may as well do any thing moft hard,

As feek to foften that, (than which what's harder !),
His Jewish heart. Therefore, I do befeech you,
Make no more offers, ufe no farther means;
But with all brief and plain conveniency

Let me have judgment, and the Jew his will.
Baff. For thy three thoufand ducats here is fix.
Shy. If ev'ry ducat in fix thousand ducats
Were in fix parts, and ev'ry part a ducat,
I would not draw them; I would have my bond.
Duke. How fhalt thou hope for mercy, rend'ring
none ?

Shy. What judgment fhall I dread, doing no wrong? You have among you many a purchas'd slave,

Which, like your affes, and your dogs, and mules,
You use in abject and in flavish part,

Because you bought them. Shall I fay to you,
Let them be free; marry them to your heirs;
Why fweat they under burdens? let their beds
Be made as foft as your's, and let their palates
Be feafon'd with fuch viands: you will answer,
The flaves are ours. So do I anfwer you.
The pound of flesh which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought; 'tis mine, and I will have it.
If you deny me, fie upon your law!

There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
I ftand for judgment; anfwer; fhall I have it?
Duke. Upon my pow'r I may difmifs this court,
Unlefs Bellario, a learned Doctor,

Whom I have fent for to determine this,

Come here to-day.

Sal. My Lord, here ftays without,

A meffenger with letters from the Doctor,
New come from Padua.

Duke. Bring us the letters, call the meffenger. [yet. Baff. Good cheer, Anthonio: what, man, courage The Jew fhall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou fhalt lofe for me one drop of blood.

Ant. I am a tainted weather of the flock, Meeteft for death: the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and fo let me. You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live ftill, and write mine epitaph.

Enter Neriffa, drefs'd like a lawyer's clerk. Duke. Came you from Padua, from Bellario? Ner. From both, my Lord. Bellario greets your Grace.

Baff. Why doft thou whet thy knife so earnestly? [The Few whetting his knife on the fole of his shoe. Shy. To cut the forfeit from that bankrupt there. Gra. Not on thy fole, but on thy foul, harfh Jew, Thou mak'ft thy knife keen; for no metal can, No, not the hangman's ax, bear half the keennefs Of thy fharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

Shy. No, none that thou haft wit enough to make.
Gra. O be thou damn'd, inexorable dog,
And for thy life let juftice be accus'd!
Thou almost mak'ft me waver in my faith,
To hold opinion with Pythagoras,

That fouls of animals infufe themselves
Into the trunks of men. Thy currifh fpirit
Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human flaughter,
Ev'n from the gallows did his fell foul fleet,
And, whilft thou lay'ft in thy unhallow'd dam,
Infus'd itself in thee: for thy defires

Are wolfish, bloody, ftarv'd, and ravenous.

Shy. Till thou canst rail the feal from off my bond, Thou but offend'ft thy lungs to speak fo loud. Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To curelefs ruin. I ftand here for law.

Duke. This letter from Bellario doth commend young and learned doctor to our court. Where is he?

A

Ner. He attendeth here hard by

To know your anfwer, whether you'll admit him.
Duke. With all my heart. Some three or four of you
Go give him courteous conduct to this place.
Mean time the court fhall hear Bellario's Letter.

Our Grace fhall understand, that, at the receipt of Y your letter, I am very fick; but at the inftant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young Doctor of Rome, his name is Balthafar. I acquainted him with the cause in controverfy between the Few and Anthonio the merchant. We turn'd o'er many books together he is furnished with my opinion, which, bettered with his own learning, (the greatnefs whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with him at my importunity, to fill up your Grace's requeft in my ftead. I befeech you, let his lack of years be no impediment, to let him lack a reverend eftimation; for I never knew fo young a body with fo old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whofe trial fhall better publish his commendation.

Enter Portia, drefs'd like a Doctor of Laws.

Duke. You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes,

And here, I take it, is the Doctor come.

Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Por. I did, my Lord,

Duke. You're welcome; take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this prefent queftion in the court?
Por. I am informed throughly of the cafe.

Which is the merchant here ? and which the Jew? Duke. Anthonio and old Shylock, both ftand forth. Por. Is your name Shylock?

Shy. Shylock is my name.

Por. Of a ftrange nature is the fuit you follow; Yet in fuch rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you, as you do proceed.

You ftand within his danger; do you not? [To Anth, Ant. Ay, fo he says.

Por. Do you confefs the bond?

Ant. I do..

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulfion muft I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not ftrain'd;

It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heav'n
Upon the place beneath. It is twice bless'd;
'It bleffeth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightieft in the mightieft; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown :
His fceptre fhews the force of temporal pow'r,
The attribute to awe and majefty,

• Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this fcepter'd sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then fhew likeft God's,
When mercy feafons juftice.' Therefore, Jew,
Tho' juftice be thy plea, confider this,
That in the courfe of juftice none of us
Should fee falvation. We do pray for mercy;
And that fame pray'r doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have fpoke thus much
To mitigate the juftice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this ftrict court of Venice

Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?
Baff. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court,
Yea, twice the fum; if that will not fuffice,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.
If this will not fuffice, it muft appear

That malice bears down truth. And I befeech you,
Wreft once the law to your authority.

To do a great right, do a little wrong;
And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no pow'r in Venice Can alter a decree eftablished.

"Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the fame example,
Will rush into the ftate. It cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel.
O wife young judge, how do I honour thee!
Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, Moft Rev'rend Doctor, here it is.
Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.
Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heav'n.
Shall I lay perjury upon my foul ?

No, not for Venice.

Por. Why, this bond is forfeit ;

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim
A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Neareft the merchant's heart. Be merciful,
Take thrice thy money, bid me tear the bond.
Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.
It doth appear you are a worthy judge;
You know the law; your expofition

Hath been moft found. I charge you by the law,
Whereof you are a well-deferving pillar,

Proceed to judgment. By my foul I fwear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I ftay here on my bond.
Ant. Moft heartily I do befeech the court
To give the judgment.

Por. Why, then thus it is:

You must prepare your bofom for his knife.